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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, November 14, 2001

Eligibility of players still in limbo

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Three days from the season opener, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team still had not received word from the NCAA on the eligibility status of three of its players yesterday.

Seniors Predrag Savovic and Mindaugas Burneika, and junior Luc-Arthur Vebobe remained in limbo as the NCAA continued to investigate their past participation in European leagues.

"We thought we were going to find out last week," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "I have no idea why it's taking so long."

Two weeks ago, the NCAA announced that players would be penalized 20 percent of the games they played in "tier-one" European leagues, up to a maximum of eight games. Based on research conducted by school attorneys, UH is recommending to the NCAA that Savovic and Burneika not be penalized, while Vebobe should sit 20 percent of the 11 games he played in France.

Under that assumption, Savovic and Burneika played in UH's 85-81 exhibition victory over the EA Sports West All-Stars Sunday, while Vebobe was not in uniform. If UH officials do not hear from the NCAA by Friday, Wallace said he will likely follow the same strategy when the 'Bows open their season that night against Norfolk State.

"We'd have to review everything again," he said. "But you don't want to make those decisions yourself. Hopefully, we'll hear something before then."

• Martin back: Sophomore forward Phil Martin returned to practice yesterday, two weeks ahead of what team doctors projected after he severely sprained his left ankle Oct. 29.

Martin was expected to miss four weeks — or UH's first six games — because of the injury. Instead, he may play in Friday's season opener.

"I'm not surprised he's back this fast," Wallace said. "But I was surprised how well he was moving."

Martin, a starter as a freshman last year, practiced yesterday with a splint on his left ankle.